03 Rape of the Sabine Women
Day 15 - 6:10pm
Piazza della Signoria's Loggia della Signoria was built in the late fourteenth century as a dais for city officials during ceremonies; only in the late eighteenth century did it become what it is today - a showcase for some of the city's more melodramatic sculptures. This is our favourite sculpture to be found there, the 'Rape of the Sabine Women'. It was created by some guy called Giambologna and, according to Meg, who recognised the sculpture as soon as she saw it, the contorted form (called a Serpentine Spiral) seen here was popular in the day but immensely difficult to sculpt (I can imagine). Most of the sculptures in the loggia are copies or recasts of originals but we were surprised to learn this is the original and it has been here in the loggia since its completion in 1583. Loggia della Signoria, Florence, Italy. August 28th 2007
